The ongoing rate price war among mobile operators in Kenya has left Zain Kenya subscribers smiling after the network slashed its call rates by 50% to all networks in Kenya.
Zain Kenya now has the most attractive call rates on the Kenyan market. Customers will now pay only Kshs 3 to all networks, and one shilling for SMS.
According to Zain Kenya Managing Director Rene Meza, the drastic rate reduction is not a promotion and all customers will automatically benefit from the new call rate.
The new rates are not subject to any terms and conditions, and would automatically apply for all customers on prepaid and postpaid tariff platforms.
Meza said the new rates would make telecommunication services more affordable to all Kenyans.
“This is the best value for money available on the market today,” said Meza.
“The new tariff is not an offer but a permanent value proposition which is in line with our mission to make mobile services extremely affordable to all Kenyans, as well as a direct response to calls by the government to mobile phone operators to reduce their inter-connectivity rates.”
He said “competitive rates coupled with the widest network coverage and superior network quality will make mobile customers in Kenya enjoy the best services with Zain”.
Zain had strategically decided to aggressively go for the mass market to fulfill its social communication needs, instead of focusing on high value customers where the network had already done very well, said Meza .
With the lowering of the connectivity charges to a new low, Kenyans will now be in a position to switch mobile service providers while retaining their current numbers once the number portability directive comes into force.
When implemented the government’s number portability directive will enable consumers to start changing their mobile phone service providers without having to surrender their numbers.
Meza attributed the rate reduction to reorganisation of the company’s cost structure which has made the mobile operator a more cost-effective organisation.
He said low cross-network charges would help stimulate communication amongst people on different networks.
“High cross network rates limit a customer’s freedom of choice.
“Going by the emerging trends in the industry, consumers will identify with a particular service provider based on clarity of the service provided and customer care support,” he added.
